SELF-GUIDED HUT TO HUT LASÖRLING GROUP TRAVERSE – 7 NIGHT ITINERARY

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LASÖRLING GROUP TRAVERSE

7 Night Itinerary - The Facts A full traverse of the dramatic Lasörling mountain group above the picturesque Virgental valley, exploring the high-level cols and balcony paths and offering stunning views of the neighbouring Venediger, Glockner and Granatspitze groups. The route visits steep-sided valleys, flower-strewn meadows and some of the most idyllic high-altitude lakes in the Hohe Tauern. Access is assisted by a jeep taxi on Day 1. Accommodation is in the form of picturesque mountain huts offering basic yet comfortable facilities surrounded by superb scenery. This is an ideal introduction to the mountains of the Hohe Tauern.

Terrain

This route uses waymarked trails which are usually straight-forward to navigate. Routes vary from well-trodden woodland paths and meadow tracks to steeper trails on looser, steep, rocky terrain. There is a section of moderate exposure on Day 5, where the path crosses a boulderfield before leading over a steep and rocky mountain col protected by cable. Naturally, as the route is in the high mountains we recommend that you have hiking experience, surefootedness, a good head for heights and a good level of fitness. Please note that routes in the high mountains, such as this one, may require you to cross patches of snow early in the season.

Grade : Moderate Walking Time : 4 to 6 hours per day (based on 3km/h) Ascent : 450m - 900m per day Descent : 240m - 1860m per day

Please note that walking time does not include time taken for rests or lunch breaks and is an indication of how long the walking itself will take.

Dates & Prices Mid-July to mid-September.

£850 per person with Airport Transfer - Saturday (Munich) and Monday (Salzburg) only £770 per person without Airport Transfer

Arrive on the day of your choice, except Wednesday which is our day off. Bookings are subject to availability of the relevant accommodation - please do not confirm any travel arrangements until we have confirmed your accommodation arrangements. Please note that this itinerary requires some use of public transport and private hut taxis – as bus service is limited on Sundays, if arriving on a Saturday you will be offered a shuttle in the Collett’s vehicle on the morning of Day 1; this will require an early start. Accommodation: Based on accommodation in dormitory style rooms in 5 mountain huts and private rooms in 2 hotels. IMPORTANT: Some dormitories have platform bed arrangements; sleeping side by side in a row. Essener Rostocker Hütte, Clarahütte, & Zupalsee Hütte offer the option to upgrade to a limited number of private rooms, subject to a supplement of £15 per person per night. Dormitories are mixed sex and vary in size from hut to hut. No single supplements apply for dormitory accommodation but are applied to private rooms. You must supply your own sleeping bag liners for all dormitory accommodation. Towels are not provided in most hut accommodation - please bring your own.

Included in the price • If required - return airport transfers from Munich (Saturday) or Salzburg (Monday) (Flights arriving must land before 3.00pm,

and depart from Munich no earlier than 11:30am and from Salzburg no earlier than 10.30am - please see www.colletts.co.uk/austria/hohe-tauern/travelling-to-matrei-in-the-austrian-alps)

• 7 nights’ accommodation. • Accommodation in Matrei for the first (Half Board) and last (B&B) nights of your trip. • Breakfast and dinner in each hut. • Detailed route laminates and relevant 1:50,000 map. • Detailed pre-departure information including packing suggestions.

Not included in the price • Flights and insurance. • Dinner on last night (dinner can be booked in accommodation or head out to local restaurant in Matrei) • Lunches (lunch items are available for purchase at each accommodation) and drinks/snacks. • Tokens for hot showers in certain huts (approx. €1 per 2 minutes) • Hut taxis and buses - allow approx. €20 per person (or €32 if opting for shorter last day)

Route Information – LASÖRLING GROUP TRAVERSE

Day 1 - Arrival in Matrei Independent travel to Matrei or Collett’s airport transfer from Salzburg or Munich airports. Settle in to accommodation before briefing with our hut to hut host before dinner. Overnight accommodation – Matrei (975m)

Day 2 - Turmljoch and Simonysee Lake

11km, 890m ascent, 870m descent - A stunning day to start off the week. The route begins with a public bus (or early Collett’s minibus shuttle if arriving on a Saturday) ride to Ströden at the head of the Virgental, from where a hut jeep taxi will ascend a side valley to take you to the start of the route at the Johannishütte. The walk then begins with the ascent to the Turmljoch pass, offering superb glacial views towards the Simonykees and Mauerkees before descending to reach the Essener Rostocker Hütte. Overnight kit can then be left here before ascending to the glacial blue waters of the Simonysee Lake above the hut. Overnight accommodation - Essener Rostocker Hütte (2208m).

Day 3 - Mauertal and Umbaltal Falls

15.5km, 750m ascent, 800m descent – A walk exploring two beautiful and contrasting valleys, the first the glacial Mauertal and the second the idyllic Umbaltal, home to the much-celebrated Umbalfalle waterfalls cascading from the Umbalkees glacier at the head of the valley. Begin the walk with a scenic descent down the Mauertal to reach the head of the Virgental. From here, the route leads past a meadow with two idyllic mountain restaurants (offering a perfect coffee break) before ascending alongside the beautiful waterfalls of the Umbal valley, studded with numerous viewpoints over the glacial waters, to reach the Clarahütte nestled in the side of the valley Overnight accommodation - Clarahütte (2038m).

Day 4 - Dabertal Valley

10km, 800m ascent, 241m descent – Today you leave the Umbaltal behind to enter back into the wild and rugged mountain terrain of the remote Dabertal, a valley surrounded by high rocky walls and the dramatic scars of former glaciers. The route begins by retracing your steps down the Umbaltal for 10 minutes before crossing the river and taking a narrow path to contour the hillside, with mild exposure. Continue to the lush green meadows between the Keesegg and Graue Wand, with glimpses of the Villgratenburge, to reach the superbly situated Neuen Reichenburger Hütte alongside a small lake. Overnight accommodation - Neuen Reichenburger Hütte (2586m).

Day 5 - Rote Lenke and the Muhs Panoramaweg 11km, 780m ascent, 1180m descent – A day of contrasts, beginning with the remote rocky terrain of the Rote Lenke and Michltal passes and ending with the aptly named Panoramaweg, offering stunning, far- reaching views across to the Venediger Group and the Grossglockner with plenty of wildflower-spotting opportunities too. The day begins with a dramatic crossing of the Rote Lenke saddle surrounded by deep red rock and offering a direct line of sight to the Grossglockner in the distance. You then descend to a broad grassy plateau before ascending up to the second col of the day, the Michlscharte. A further steep descent into the Lasnitztental leads to the stunning Muhs-Panoramaweg, a balcony path offering superb far-reaching views and leading to the idyllic Bergersee lake and its neighbouring hut. Overnight accommodation – Bergersee Hütte (2182m).

Day 6 - Bergertorl and Zupalsee Lake 12km, 900m ascent, 900m descent – Another day of varied terrain, with the steep boulderfield below the Bergertorl providing a challenging ascent at the start of the day, followed by a steep and partially protected descent down to the Lasörlinghütte. From here, undulating terraces and plateaus lead to the idyllic Zupalsee Hütte on the shores of the much-photographed lake. Surefootedness is essential on the ascent of the boulderfield and the Bergertörl itself is rocky and moderately exposed, with a short section of cable protecting the steepest section. The first forty metres of steep descent are also cabled, before the path continues more easily in the valley to reach the Glauretkotterle basin below. You pass the curiously octagonal Lasörlinghütte to then follow undulating terrain past a panoramic viewpoint to reach the picturesque Zupalsee Hütte alongside its idyllic lake. Overnight accommodation – Zupalsee Hütte (2350m).

Day 7 - Three Valleys Traverse and Return to Matrei 19km, 450m ascent, 1860m descent - or - 11km, 100m ascent, 425m descent – The final day’s walk is a long traverse and descent back to Matrei, beginning with a beautiful contouring path with stunning views before passing the diminutive Lackensee lake and entering the trees to traverse two V-shaped valleys. The route then descends through pastures overlooking Matrei and passes the 13th century chapel of St Nikolaus above the village. NOTE: For a much easier day (11km, 100m ascent, 425m descent) it is possible to take a hut jeep taxi (supplement applied) from the Wetterkreuzhütte down to Virgen to then walk the final section along the river back to Matrei. Speak to the hut owners at the Zupalsee Hütte to arrange this the night before and pay directly. Settle in to accommodation in Matrei, head out for dinner in the village. Overnight accommodation – B&B, Matrei (975m).

At Your Own Risk You do this itinerary at your own risk and on the understanding that these routes were accurate at the time of writing. Please be aware that conditions can change at any time and that this itinerary relies on your sound judgement and decision making throughout.

Our self-guided hut to hut itineraries are put together on a basis of goodwill so that you might enjoy a route you may not otherwise h ave discovered. It represents nothing more than the opportunity to walk in a wonderful yet mountainous walking area with logistical arrangements taken care of for you.

It is a fact that mountains, mountainous areas and activities undertaken in them are associated with personal injury and death. By coming to such areas, you are exposing yourself and your party to the possibility of personal injury or even death. In such an event, Collett's Mountain Holidays will not be held responsible for your interest in mountainous areas and your involvement in mountain pursuits, which can occasionally have tragic consequences.

It is important that you understand that these routes are put together using our extensive knowledge of the area, to provide a route which we believe will be enjoyable and realistic for people who decide that they have the appropriate level of fitness and ability in order to complete the itinerary safely. The information provided uses only marked paths which are in use at the time of writing. However, it is your responsibility to continually assess the suitability and safety of the route throughout the walk and to undertake any action necessary to avoid any terrain, which each or any member of the group is not comfortable with. The route choice also assumes an ability to read maps and navigate competently.

It is the responsibility of each individual in the group to make an assessment of the information provided, and to make an informed decision about whether the itinerary is suitable for them.

Finally, during your holiday with Collett's Mountain Holidays you act at your own risk on any ideas, information and opinions you might acquire from our team members in Matrei or from material prepared by Collett’s to help you get the most from the area.